16701/Cafe Convo

Cafe Convo
Date of Scene:	10 February 2025
Location:	The Coffee Bean - Manhattan
Synopsis:	Wanda and Willow meet where Willow receives some advice
Cast of Characters:	Willow Rosenberg, Scarlet Witch

---

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Brrr!

February. And this year was colder than normal. Willow was dressed in her winter jacket, and a fluffy scarf wrapped around her neck.. once.. twice.. three times. Complete with mittens and Doc Marten boots. She was an odd young women. And yet, these days there was something about her. A poise?

In reality it was power. To those that could see it, she reeked of it.

But for the regular passerby, there was something about Willow that dragged your eyes across her, wondering.

Getting a coffee from the register, she blew on her hands, looking around. "Wanda! Sorry for being late. I had a whole bunch of paperwork to complete for the summer entrance." As she talked, she wandered over to the table, and put her coffee down in order to take her coat off. "It's colder than a witches' left titty out there today."

Apparently, Dark Willow had left her mark on Willow vocabulary.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
    Wanda had been seated in a quiet corner of the cafe, the soft glow of a single candle casting flickering shadows over the open pages of the worn tome before her. A delicate cup of tea, still steaming, rested nearby, its subtle scent of chamomile and honey drifting through the air. Her fingers, poised with effortless grace, traced along the intricate arcane diagrams inked into the aged parchment, her mind deep in study.

    The hum of the cafe provided a soothing backdrop, the occasional clinking of cups and hushed conversations melding into white noise. Though outwardly calm, Wanda was acutely aware of the shifting threads of energy in her surroundings, her senses always attuned to the presence of magic---especially when it approached her.

    And then she felt it. Before Willow even spoke, Wanda sensed the weight of power that clung to her, the way it resonated through the air like a silent hum. Even restrained, even woven neatly into the brunette's composed posture, it was unmistakable.

    Lifting her gaze from the tome, Wanda glanced up just as Willow arrived, a faint smirk curving her lips at the younger woman's colorful choice of words.

    "Miss Rosenberg," she greeted, closing the book gently. "I'd say 'no worries,' but I'm fairly certain time bends differently for witches like us." Her expression remained neutral, though there was the ghost of amusement in her eyes. "And I see your vocabulary has taken an interesting turn."

    She motioned toward the seat across from her, fingers elegantly curling around her tea cup as she lifted it to her lips. "Come, sit. I was just going over some theory---nothing too world-ending, I promise." A beat passed before she arched a brow, taking in Willow's presence with a careful glance. "Though, I'd say you have more than just paperwork on your mind.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Quickly, Willow took off her coat. Her garments were just as eclectic as she was.And yet? They seemed to suit her.

"I know, right?" Willow basically rolled her eyes, as she sat down. "I find myself being so loose with swearing! I never used to say such things." For Willow 'titty' was a swear word. In the realm of things, she didn't curse as much as the normal person would have, but for her? It was a lot.

"I finally got my records straight for my doctorate. I'm surprised that I didn't have to sign over my first born child!" She laughs. "Well, not so bad. And because I have a scholarship, it was twice the amount of paperwork. We're heading into the last few weeks of the semester, and my Masters will be done. Weird, huh? It's like nothing different happened to me this past year when I was Dark Willow. The professors thought I was having the usual amount of stress, and was reacting fairly normal! Can you imagine?" She shakes her head.

A sigh left her as she settled in.

"I had a good talk with Buffy last night." But something other than that is bothering her. Tapping her cup with her fingertips, she stared at the depths of her coffee.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
    Wanda smirks, a quiet amusement flickering in her eyes as she listens to Willow lament her newfound ease with colorful language. She sets her tea cup down with deliberate grace, the faintest trace of a knowing look settling on her face.

    "Well, that's what happens when you accept yourself---both sides, dark and light," she muses, resting her chin lightly against her knuckles. "They're two sides of the same coin, after all. I suppose, in your case, one side just comes with a more... colorful vocabulary."

    The smirk lingers for a moment before softening as Willow speaks about her academic achievements. Wanda nods in approval, genuine pride threading through her tone.

    "Congratulations, Willow. That's no small feat. Balancing academia with everything else that's happened to you?" She exhales softly, shaking her head with a touch of admiration. "You should be proud. And I wish you well in your pursuits. The world needs more scholars who understand magic as intimately as you do."

    She leans back slightly, watching Willow carefully as she stirs her coffee, fingers idly tapping against the cup's surface.

    "You mentioned talking to Buffy last night," Wanda notes, her voice gentle but inquisitive. "How did that go?"

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Looking up, Willow's eyes were clear. Whatever is bothering her, it is Buffy. Or, at least, not enough to trouble her inner vision.

"Her mother isn't well. But I have no reason to think that she is dying. Just, it bothers me that Buffy was dealing with her mother's illness, and I wasn't there to support her. Actually , this past year, neither of us stayed at the apartment. Not really."

Willow frowns. Then sighs.

"I think we finally stopped circling the truth of the matter, and finally talked about it. This whole thing - Dark Willow - was blown out of the water by both of us by not talking to truth right from the very start. I mean, I'm not blaming her - Dark Willow was my own fault, but she was feeling guilty about my staying here instead of going away to a more prominent university, and was guilty for dragging me through her Slaying. And if she would have just talked to me at the beginning she would have realized it was what I wanted."

"And I was stupid. I never talked with her either. That I blame on my parents. They only know how to show me love by giving me praise for physical things. Like marks. Really, marks were a big thing in my family." To which, Willow nods. "All in all, that was the beginning cracks that Dark Willow found her way to the surface. I think she knows now that I want to help for me? The supernatural phenomena is something I know. Even more so that my power is actually unveiled."

A pause, while she takes a sip of her coffee.

Then a sigh. "Harry has gone off on a mission without me. Which is unusual. We've been partners for a while. And this time, he has gone off to the underside without me." In truth, he didn't take her there before. But something about -this- time bothers her.

Scarlet Witch has posed:
    Wanda listens intently, her expression calm yet perceptive as she absorbs Willow's concerns. She allows the younger witch to speak without interruption, sensing the weight of everything she's trying to process. When Willow finally sighs, fingers lingering on her coffee cup, Wanda exhales softly, shifting slightly as she leans forward, resting her forearms on the table.

    "There's an old lesson in magic," she begins, her voice warm, carrying the quiet wisdom of experience. "Power isn't just about spells, incantations, or raw energy. It's about knowing yourself---your strengths, your weaknesses, your truths. And the more you understand those, the stronger you become."

    She tilts her head slightly, watching Willow carefully. "It sounds like you and Buffy finally stopped avoiding the truth and faced it instead. That's good. The past has a way of creeping up on us, and it's easy to let regret fester. But what's harder---and more important---is forgiving yourself. Now that everything is in the open, you don't need to carry the weight of what was. The best thing you can do is move forward with what is."

    She pauses, letting her words settle before shifting her focus. "But let's talk about Harry for a moment," she continues, her tone remaining gentle but now tinged with curiosity. "You said he's gone off without you, and that it's unusual. What about this time feels different to you? Is it where he's gone? Who he's gone with? Or is it simply that he didn't tell you something?"

    Wanda lifts her tea, taking a measured sip before adding, "Trust is the foundation of any true bond. If he left without you, there must be a reason. The question is---do you believe in that reason, or do you believe there's something he isn't telling you?"

    Her gaze sharpens slightly, though not unkindly. "If there's something off about this, tell me what you feel about it. Not what makes logical sense, but what your instincts are telling you." She gives Willow a small, knowing smile. "Because if something truly is wrong, I have no doubt that you'll be able to handle it."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow hazards a little smile. "It's a start? At least Buffy and I finally quit beating around the bush. I wasn't aware that she felt guilty. All this time I thought I was just a sidekick to her, and a bad one at that. I thought she didn't need me or want me, that it was one more thing she had to take care of."

Again, she shakes her head.

Harry was a different thing altogether.

"Okay. I know that Harry always preferred me to take the long way around, instead of going with him on the underside. It's dangerous. I know that. But something tells me Harry needs me this time. And I don't know how to find him. Or even if I'm being paranoid for no reason."

Scarlet Witch has posed:
    Wanda listens with quiet understanding, offering Willow a knowing look as she reflects on her friendship with Buffy. She takes a slow sip of her tea before responding, her tone gentle but firm.

    "It's easy to misinterpret silence," Wanda muses, placing her cup down. "When people don't say what they feel, we fill in the gaps ourselves. And more often than not, we assume the worst. You thought you were a burden to Buffy when, in reality, she felt guilty for not doing more for you. Two people dancing around the truth instead of simply speaking it."

    She leans forward slightly, eyes steady. "But now you know. And now you can move forward. You weren't just a sidekick to her, Willow. You were a friend---her anchor in ways she probably didn't even realize. You matter to her, just as you always have."

    Letting that settle, Wanda shifts her focus to the more pressing issue.

    "As for Harry..." She exhales softly, considering. "Your instincts are sharp. If you feel he needs you, then I would trust that feeling. But if you don't know how to find him, then there's another option."

    She watches Willow carefully before continuing. "There's a path that witches can take when mundane means fail us. It's called the Witch's Road. A liminal space between here and the beyond, traveled only by those with power strong enough to forge the path."

    Wanda's fingers lightly trace the rim of her tea cup. "It's dangerous. Unstable. A road that doesn't follow the logic of time or distance. It shows you what you seek---but at a cost. You must be certain of what you're looking for, or you'll find something else entirely."

    Her gaze sharpens, her voice lowering slightly. "If Harry is truly in trouble, the Witch's Road might lead you to him. But it will test you, Willow. You'll need control, resolve, and the willingness to face whatever stands between you and your answer."

    She lets the weight of that settle before adding, "If you choose this path, I can help you prepare. But the decision must be yours."

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
There's a nod from Willow. "She could have saved herself so much if she had talked to me in the beginning. When I decided to not take the scholarships at the various universities and stayed here. I could have told her then that if was my decision - that the big schools would still be there if I decided to go. Columbia fell over backwards to get me when I was done with my undergraduate degree. Columbia!"

It was a prestigious school!

"I had my own problems." And how! "I guess, I was guilty of turning everything to myself. It never occurred to me that everyone else wasn't the same as my parents. I love them, but they are a real handful. Did you know, my mother tried to burn me at the stake for being a witch?"

"I had to erase her memory."

She listens to Wanda's suggestion about the Witch's Road.

Nodding quietly to herself she contemplates the idea. "Harry would be so cranky with me if he wasn't in trouble." Yet.."Can I think about it, and get back to you?"

Scarlet Witch has posed:
    Wanda offers a small, approving smile as Willow speaks of Columbia, nodding slightly. "That's no small achievement, Willow. You had the world at your feet, and you chose your own path. That's a kind of power in itself---one that people don't always recognize until much later."

    She exhales softly, watching the younger witch with a knowing look. "People have a way of assuming they know what's best for others. But the truth is, we each carry burdens and expectations that shape the way we act. Buffy assumed your decision was about her. You assumed she didn't need you. And all the while, both of you were waiting for the other to just say it." Wanda shakes her head slightly. "It's human, but it's also a lesson. You know the truth now. And that means you can choose differently moving forward."

    At the mention of Willow's mother trying to burn her at the stake, Wanda's expression shifts, her gaze darkening slightly---not with anger, but with something deeper. Understanding. Empathy.

    "I know what it is to be condemned for being a witch," she says softly, her voice tinged with something distant. "To be feared for what you are, rather than embraced." Her fingers lightly trace the rim of her teacup, her mind flickering to the echoes of her own past, of torches and superstitions, of being called spawn of the Devil. She lifts her gaze back to Willow, her expression warm despite the weight of her words. "It's a cruelty that leaves scars. And sometimes the hardest thing isn't forgiving them---it's accepting that it even happened at all."

    She lets that moment settle before offering a small nod. "But you made the choice to keep going. And that, too, is power."

    As Willow contemplates the Witch's Road, Wanda remains quiet, allowing her space to process. When she finally speaks, Wanda simply nods. "Take all the time you need. This isn't something to rush into. When you're ready, you know where to find me."

    There's no pressure in her voice, only understanding. Whatever Willow decided, Wanda would be there when she was needed.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow smiles.

"You are becoming a good friend. More than a teacher. Some of these things I can't talk about with my family, nor really can I talk about them with Buffy. It would be like her talking about how to kill this monster with this weapon versus that weapon. There is only so much knowlege that you can absorb until you have to bow out to the professionals."

Putting on her coat again, she finishes off her thought. "I'll let you know by Friday. Saturday at the latest."

And with that, picking up her coffee, she is gone.